Pottsville approves tennis court change orderPOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville Board of Education approved a change order for the construction of its tennis courts during its meeting Thursday at the high school library. Superintendent Larry Dugger said more dirt work must be completed for the project, which includes four courts located near the high school. The board approved a $7,732 change order. The courts are scheduled to be completed at the beginning of August, Dugger said. The total cost...

Dover preps for new middle schoolDOVER — The Dover School Board received a report from financial adviser Dan Lovelady of Beardsley Public Finance on the bond issue approved in March’s millage election and signed the paperwork necessary for the process to be completed during Thursday’s regular meeting. The construction bonds will finance a new middle school complex incorporating the present Lower Middle School and fine arts buildings. Lovelady told the board $15,045,000 in bon...

University to invest in emergency generatorsArkansas Tech University will soon have enhanced capacity to continue operations in the event of a power outage following action by the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees during Thursday's meeting at the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center. Trustees voted to purchase and install a natural gas-operated generator for McEver Hall and a diesel-operated generator for Corley Hall. The board awarded a contract for the project to low bidder Ev...

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia visits Arkansas collegeMOUNTAIN HOME (AP) — Mountain Home recently received a visit from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. The Baxter Bulletin reported Scalia spoke to constitutional law students at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home on Thursday. He held a question-and-answer session later that day with the general public on the university's campus. Scalia spoke about various topics including interpretations of the Constitution and what he sees as the ...

Bowen defines vision for future of ATUDr. Robin E. Bowen outlined four areas of emphasis for her presidency during her inauguration as the 12th president of Arkansas Tech University at Tucker Coliseum on Friday. Bowen cited distributive leadership, grit, collaboration with the community and social justice as four aspects of the Arkansas Tech culture that she hopes are strengthened during her tenure as chief executive officer for the institution. Below, in part, are Bowen’s thought...

ATU registers almost 1,700 with Be the MatchArkansas Tech University registered 1,696 individuals with Be The Match, the national bone marrow registry, during a 24-hour drive on Tuesday andWednesday. Included in the count are 254 individuals who registered during the first hour of the drive from 9-10 p.m. Tuesday. Preliminary indications are that Arkansas Tech established a new world record for most people registered with Be The Match during a one-hour period. Arkansas Tech faculty memb...

Community education courses discontinuedDr. A.J. Anglin, interim vice president for academic affairs at Arkansas Tech University, has announced that the institution will discontinue offering community education courses as of the end of its Summer I term on July 2. All full-time personnel currently working in the community education program will have the opportunity to remain with Arkansas Tech and continue to serve the university in other capacities. “As the university becomes more ...

ATU inauguration changes venueA rainy week in the Arkansas River Valley has forced Arkansas Tech University to adjust the location for the inauguration of Dr. Robin E. Bowen as its 12th president. The inauguration will take place at 2 p.m. on Friday in John E. Tucker Coliseum. A reception will follow near the coliseum trophy case. The event had been scheduled for the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center South Lawn before heavy rain early in the week and forecasts...

ATU inauguration week activities scheduled to resume todayArkansas Tech University will continue a week of activities today in celebration of the inauguration of Dr. Robin E. Bowen as its 12th president. Alumni and friends of the university are invited to a community campus open house from 4-6 p.m. today. Guided tours will depart from the Tucker Coliseum parking lot. Wednesday’s schedule also includes a Be The Match bone marrow registry drive, which will last until 9 p.m. The headquarters for the dri...

Oakland Half MarathonOver 250 Oakland Heights Elementary students, grades 2-4, completed their final 1-mile run Tuesday afternoon in an effort to promote a healthy lifestyle and to improve scores on their cardiovascular fitness tests. School P.E. coach Tami Robinson has had the students training the past month by running a mile, three times per week for a total of 12 miles. Yesterday’s run, led by special guest marathon runners Will Berry and Brant Bauman, brought...

ATU to host inauguration for presidentDr. Robin E. Bowen will be inaugurated as the 12th president of Arkansas Tech University during a ceremony on Friday, April 17. The inauguration is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center South Lawn at the Arkansas Tech campus in Russellville. A reception will follow in the Chambers Cafeteria West Dining Room. The public is invited to attend the inauguration. Should inclement weather intervene, the event will...

Student arrested after gun found at Little Rock schoolLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Police in Little Rock say a 14-year-old student has been arrested after he was found to be carrying an unloaded gun on the campus of Horace Mann Middle School. A police report says another student reported the weapon Friday morning and that a security officer assigned to the school took the boy out of class. The teenager was then searched and the handgun was found in his pants pocket. No injuries are reported. The report say...

North Little Rock coach fired by school boardNORTH LITTLE ROCK (AP) — District officials have unanimously voted to fire North Little Rock High School's football coach Brad Bolding, who is accused of recruitment and purchasing violations. School board members voted Friday to uphold their decision to terminate the coach made during a previous appeal meeting. Bolding requested the appeal after receiving a second termination notice. Superintendent Kelly Rodgers said the second notice was sen...

Arkansas State University leaders to consider alcohol salesJONESBORO (AP) — Leaders of Arkansas State University have approved alcohol sales in limited areas during athletic and entertainment events. The system's board of trustees on Friday unanimously sanctioned a 10-year lease with the NEA Sports Club, a local nonprofit. The club will be allowed to sell beer, wine or liquor to its members in limited areas of the Centennial Bank Stadium and the Tomlinson Stadium. It can also sell alcohol at designate...

Scholarship Gala looks to benefit ATU studentsArkansas Tech University alumni, faculty, staff and community supporters will have an opportunity to help the institution celebrate its 12th president and provide scholarship assistance for Tech students during the Inaugural Scholarship Gala on April 17. The event, which will take place at the L.V. Williamson Boys and Girls Club in Russellville, will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Tickets are $100 per perso...

Two Rivers Elementary students receive donated shoesGood Friday became a great Friday for some area elementary students this year. Two Rivers Elementary students in grades K-4 were presented with a visit from the Easter Bunny bringing gifts, as well as a new pair of shoes for each student. Centerville Assembly of God, in partnership with Convoy of Hope Rural Compassion and a shoe manufacturer, gave the gifts to each student as a way of showing compassion during Holy Week. Jeremy Bull, Lead Past...

RHS theater students learn 'Macguyver Art'Theatre students at Russellville High School recently had the opportunity to work with craftsman Joe Rial for two days at RHS. Rial is an instructor at Cobalt Studios in NY where he teaches scenic painting and sculpture to teachers. He has been teaching workshops in what he describes as “MacGuyver Art” and scenic lighting and design for the past 30 years. Rial did exercises with the students on working with props and the engineering and physic...

Over the river, into the woods...Local fifth-graders are experiencing the thrill of camping in the wild outdoors through an annual program this week at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock. Russellville Upper Elementary Fifth Grade (UE5G) and St. John Catholic School students have swapped classrooms for cabins at the 120-acre facility. Local students have participated in the camp, which has been housed at several locations around the state, for more than 40 years. UE5G Principal Ca...

Little Rock school district to lay off 63 employeesLITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Little Rock School District has notified 63 employees, including the deputy superintendent and associate superintendents, that their jobs will be eliminated. Interim superintendent Dexter Suggs told the district's Financial Stability Committee Monday that notices have been sent to employees, who are from the senior-leadership level. Eligible staff members were told that they will be offered other positions, like teaching...

Tech music students to offer performance at Subiaco AbbeyMembers of the Arkansas Tech University Brass Choir will perform in concert at Subiaco Abbey in Logan County this evening. The performance will begin at 7:45 p.m. Admission will be free and open to the public. Selected pieces will include “Alleluia” by composer Jacobus Gallus and a solo trumpet performance of “Prayer of Saint Gregory” by Arkansas Tech senior Hayley Watson of Magnet Cove. “Brass ensembles from Tech have performed in this beauti...